The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to mobilise no fewer than 1.4 million National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members as ad-hoc staff for the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, revealed this during a strategic courtesy visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, where he led a high-powered delegation comprising National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission, directors, and senior aides.
They were received by the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Oluseye Nafiu, and his management team at the Yakubu Gowon House.Professor Amupitan described the meeting as “a mission of profound gratitude,” emphasising that corps members have been the backbone of Nigeria’s electoral process since 1999.
He noted that their patriotism, discipline, and digital competence—particularly in operating the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)—have consistently ensured the integrity of the ballot.
According to the INEC chairman, the 2023 general election saw about 1.2 million ad-hoc staff deployed, with over 70 per cent (nearly 850,000) coming from the NYSC and student volunteer pool. For 2027, the numbers are set to rise significantly.
Breaking down the figures, Professor Amupitan disclosed that INEC would require exactly 707,384 corps members for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027. Another 707,384 will be deployed for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.
He added that thousands more corps members would be needed for off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano states.
Acknowledging the risks associated with election duty, the INEC chairman assured the NYSC leadership that the commission would strengthen insurance, welfare, and security arrangements for all deployed corps members.
In his response, Brigadier General Nafiu commended the long-standing partnership, describing corps members as “credible, reliable, patriotic, and easily trainable manpower.”
He noted that as the last batch of millennials exit the scheme, a new generation of digitally savvy Gen Z corps members—whose ICT proficiency will greatly support modern electoral operations—is taking over.
The NYSC DG appealed for improved welfare packages, compensation, and insurance to motivate corps members, while pledging the scheme’s full commitment to supporting INEC in delivering free, fair, and credible elections in 2027 and beyond.
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